Hurricane Irene Wreaks Havoc on Live Music

With Hurricane Irene making its way up the East Coast this weekend, as many as 55 million people are predicted to fall into its path, according to The New York Times. Music fans, of course, are no exception. Weather concerns have forced organizers to cancel or postpone a number of concerts and festivals, including scheduled performances by the Walkmen, the Roots, Janelle Monáe, Santigold, Das Racist, Toro Y Moi, Cee-Lo Green, CANT, Q-Tip, Male Bonding, Ted Leo, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings, School of Seven Bells, Matt & Kim, Talib Kweli, and many others.

"I cannot stress this highly enough," President Barack Obama said today in a press conference in Washington, DC, as quoted by Reuters. "If you are in the projected path of this hurricane, you have to take precautions now. Don't wait. Don't delay."

A list of selected music events affected by the storm is below. Stay tuned to the Village Voice's Sound of the City blog for the latest NYC-area live music updates.In Brooklyn, the seventh annual Afro-Punk Festival has been canceled. Among the acts scheduled to appear in Commodore Barry Park were Cee-Lo Green, Santigold, Janelle Monáe, Das Racist, Toro Y Moi, Ninjasonik, Gordon Voidwell, Reggie Watts, Joi, Res, Kenna, and Dances With White Girls.

Saturday and Sunday at the Dave Matthews Band Caravan, which was to take place on Governor's Island, has been postponed. The Roots, Gogol Bordello, the Head and the Heart, Josh Ritter & the Royal City Band, and others were set to perform.

Out in the Streets Festival, set for August 27 and 28 at Brooklyn Fireproof, has been canceled. The lineup included Lemonade, Janka Nabay, NewVillager, Mi Ami, the Forms, Milagres, Co La, and more.

Daytrotter's Barnstormer 5 show at Brooklyn Bowl, which was to feature Guards, Doug Paisley, and others on August 27 has also been canceled. Talib Kweli's DJ set at Brooklyn Bowl on August 28 has been canceled.

In Manhattan, Mercury Lounge has canceled its August 28 show featuring CANT and Blood Orange and its August 27 show featuring Joe Pernice.

Q-Tip's August 27 Michael Jackson Birthday Tribute with DJ Spinna at Irving Plaza has been postponed and will be rescheduled, according to the rapper's Twitter.